A well-known Spanish socialite who became a mother again in her late 60s using her late son’s preserved sperm has offered a rare glimpse into life as what she calls a “grandmother-mother”.
Former actress Ana Obregon sparked widespread controversy in 2023 after welcoming a baby via a surrogate in the United States, using sperm that had been frozen by her son before he died of cancer in 2021. She later confirmed the pregnancy involved an egg donor, and that the child is her granddaughter, not her daughter.
At the time, Obregon was 68, and photos of her leaving a US hospital with a newborn drew intense attention in Spain—particularly because surrogacy is illegal there. The unusual circumstances prompted a public wave of questions, speculation, and debate.
Her story attracted even more intrigue due to family ties connected to Spain’s former royal family: the father of her late son is linked to former Spanish King Juan Carlos, making the child’s lineage a topic of added public fascination.
“The girl isn’t my daughter, she’s my granddaughter. It was Aless’ last wish to bring a child into the world,” Obregon said at the time to ¡Hola! Magazine.
In the years since, Obregon has largely stepped away from the spotlight and focused on raising Anita Sandra. However, to mark Mother’s Day in Spain, she posted a rare update to her 1.3 million Instagram followers, sharing two photos with her daughter-granddaughter and reflecting on how the day now feels complicated for her.
Translated from Spanish, she wrote: “Mother’s Day hurts. My heart goes out to all the mothers who have their angels in heaven. Those who swallow their tears with a smile to survive.
“I need to tell you that love is the greatest force that exists, that we should try to feel their love from wherever they are. I need to tell you that we will be their mothers forever.”
She then added: “Happy Mother’s Day to the mothers who are lucky enough to have their children on earth, who can hug them, talk to them, smell them. Don’t let a single day go by without telling them how much you love them.
“Collect countless moments with them, because that’s the only thing that truly matters in this life. The greatest pride and privilege is being a mother (at least for me).
“Now I am a grandmother-mother to an angel who illuminates every second of my darkness. Blessed are all the mothers on earth and those who gave us life and are in heaven.”
Reports last year suggested Obregon also described how her home life has changed since the child’s arrival, saying her day-to-day world is now dominated by toys and stuffed animals. She also acknowledged the physical strain that comes with caring for a toddler at her age, including back pain when lifting her.
Obregon has continued to speak openly about the grief of losing her son, underscoring how quickly life can change after a serious diagnosis.
Obregon said: “We live our whole lives saying that we are eternal and nothing happens here. Suddenly, one day they tell you at 25 years old that you have an aggressive cancer.”